Package, packaging method and divider construction therefor



1962 J. u. SABIN 3,048,318

PACKAGE, PACKAGING METHOD AND DIVIDER CONSTRUCTION THEREFOR Filed March 21, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

f' John 41. Sabin l 0 7 A Home y Aug. 7, 1962 J. U. SABIN PACKAGE, PACKAGING METHOD AND DIVIDER CONSTRUCTION THEREFOR Filed March 21, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J'Fig8 John INVENTOR' U. Sabin United States Patent fifice 3,048,318 Patented Aug. 7, 1962 3,048,318 1 PACKAGE, PACKAGING METHOD AND DIVIDER I CONSTRUCTION THEREFOR John U. Sabin, Fresno, Califl, assignor to Fibreboard Paper Products Corporation, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 16,302 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-15) This invention relates to packaging, and more particularly to a package and packaging method in which a special type of divider structure is employed to enable objects, particularly relatively round food products, such as melons, oranges or the like to be packaged in paper board cartons without popping out of the carton, while at the same time enabling customers to see and inspect the objects through a top opening in the carton.

Summarizing the invention, it has as its objects, among others, the provision of a simple and economical package and packaging method which will protect the objects during shipment, and atthe same time allow the objects to be inspected or manipulated- Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description. V I

Generally, a carton is provided which has a partial top closure flap hingedly connectedto each of its upstanding side walls, the closure flaps being of such width as to form an inspection opening through which objects in the carton can be seen, and also turned by hand for inspecting the same. To preclude objects from popping out of the carton, retaining means is provided comprising'a central divider substantially wedge shaped in cross section extending between opposite side walls of the carton With its wide part on top whereby the divider sides slant inwardly.

Relatively round objects are arranged in rows at each side of the divider, and the closure flaps are secured together at their adjacent overlapped corners. The objects are selectively arranged in various row patterns depending on their size with each inner row abutting or engaging an inwardly slanting side of the divider, an outer row a side wall of the carton, and with objects of adjacent rows in engagement. As a result, objects of an inner row are precluded from popping out during shipment because of the wedge shape of the divider, and objects of an outer row are precluded from popping out by carton closure flaps.

7 Reference is now made to the drawings cfor a more detailed description of the invention, in which FIG. 1 is a plan view of a paperboard blank from which the divider structure is formed;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view illustrating the divider structure in a carton adapted to package the objects; portions of the structure being shown broken away and other portions being shown in phantom lines to illustrate the construction more clearly;

FIG. 3 is a plan view on a reduced scale illustrating the packaged carton with its top closure flaps closed;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken in the plane indicated .by the line 4-4 in FIG. 2; portions of the structure being shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view illustrating relatively round objects packaged in rows forming one particular pattern;

FIG. 6 is a similar view showing objects of slightly larger size arranged in another pattern;

FIG. 7 is also a similar view illustrating still larger objects in an additional pattern;

FIG. 8 is also a similar view illustrating a pattern of the objects of large size than those of FIG. 7.

The carton employed is desirably of paperboard, preferably corrugated pap'enboard, conventionally made from a single blank of material, and comprising a bottom 2 formed of closure flaps completely closing the bottom and a pair of upstanding opposite side walls 3 connected to a second pair of opposite side Walls 4 which form the ends of the carton. Hingedly connected to each side wall 3 is a partial closure flap 6, and hingedly connected to each side wall 4 is a partial closure flap 7.

These closure flaps are of such width as to provide a top opening 8 in the carton package through which the objects can be seen by the consumer and manually inspected by turning the same in the carton. Also, each closure is desirably of a width less than one-fourth of the distance between opposite side walls'to which opposite closure flaps are hinged, and in the case of pack aging melons they are desirably about three, to four inches wide to provide a relatively large inspection top opening 8. p

In'the completely packaged carton, as can be seen from FIG. 3, the adjacent corners of adjacent closure flaps are secured together by suitable means such as staples 9, or adhesive. Opposite walls 4 of the carton are provided with spaced apart suitable elongated hand holes 11.

A divider structure is provided for cooperation with the carton. It is also desirably formed of corrugated paperboard from a single blank of material shown in FIG. 1; the blank having score lines 12 and wedge shaped cut out end portions 13 to form an elongated relatively narrow top panel 14 having aside panel ldhingedly connected to each side edge thereof. Hingedly connected to each end of each side panel 16 is an inwardly slanting retaining panel 17; and hingedly connected to each retaining panel 17 is a retaining wing 18; the retaining panels 17 being provided with hand holes 19 to match the hand holes 11 in the carton.

As can be seen best from FIG. 2, when the divider structure is in position in the carton, side panels 16 thereof are foldeddownwardly to provide a wedge or V- shaped divider wall with inwardly slanting sides forming a hollow space 21 therebetween; For holding the bottom edges of the divider side panels 16 together to maintain the wedge shape, a locking tab 22 is formed in one side panel .16 by means of inwardly slanting cuts 23 and hinge connection line 24. Such locking tab is thus wedge shaped and is adapted to be secured in a rectangularly shaped notch 26 in the other side panel 16 .as can be seen from FIG. 3. The length of the divider wall 14,

16 is substantially the same as the distance'between opposite side walls 4, so that it forms a full length divider extending between such walls.

In the assembled position of the divider in the carton,

panel 17 so as to abut the adjacent carton side wall 3.

Thus, the divider structure is firmly held in position. In this connection, retaining panels 17 are of such length that divider wall '14, 16 is located substantially centrally or midway between carton walls 3; and the wedge shape of cut out portions 13 in the divider blank is substantially congruent to the wedge shape of the set up divider wall 14, 16 to compensate for the Wedge shape of the divider wall to thus allow the divider structure to fit properly in the carton.

The described structure has proven to be particularly advantageous for the packaging of melons; and the dimensions of the carton are such as to enable selective packaging of four rows of various size melons generally packaged for shipment to consumers, with two rows on each side of the divider wall 14, 16.

With relatively small size melons, as can be seen from FIG. 5, they are packed five in a row, and in alinement in transverse rows. With slightly larger size melons, they are packed four in a row (FIG. 6) but with the melons of adjacent rows at each side of the divider staggered with respect to each other although the melons in each row are in engagement. FIG. 7 illustrates packaging for still larger melons, with three melons in a row. The melons in adjacent rows at each side of the divider are staggered with the melons in each row spaced apart but in engagement with melons of an adjacent row. FIG. 8 illustrates a further arrangement for melons of still larger size, wherein the rows of melons at each side of the divider comprise two and three arranged in a manner similar to the arrangement in FIG. 7.

In all packaging arrangements, each outer row of melons engages or abuts a side of the carton, and is retained against popping out during shipment by means by a closure flap 6 while each inner row of melons engages an inwardly slanting divider side 16 which precludes melons from popping out during shipment. In this connection, every melon is also in engagement with at least two other melons, to thus provide firm packaging. Alt the same time, because the divider wall 14, 16 is wedge shaped with a hollow space 21 between sides 16 thereof, resilient cushioning of the melons obtains enabling the melons to be firmly held without chafing, thereby avoiding damage thereto during shipment.

It will be noted from FIG. 4 that the height of the container is such as to provide a space 27 above the melons. Thus, the consumer by inserting his hand through the top ,opening 8 can manually inspect any melon he desires by rotating the same, in addition to being able to observe the melons through such opening.

In packaging the melons all that need be done is to position the divider structure in the carton in the manner described, arrange the melons in rows of the character described in accordance with their size, and then close the closure flaps and secure them together at the overlapped corners of adjacent flaps.

I claim:

A precut and prescored carton divider formed from a single blank of paperboard comprising a top forming a panel of generally elongated rectangular shape, a side panel hingedly connected to each side edge of said top forming panel, a lock tab cut out from one side panel adjacent the bottom edge thereof and hingedly connected thereto for interlocking with a notch in the bottom edge of the other side panel to hold the bottom edges of the side panels together and thus provide a hollow divider wall substantially wedge shaped in cross section, a retaining panel hingedly connected to each end of said side panels and extending outwardly therefrom, adjacent retaining panels'on ditferent side panels converging to the extended longitudinal center line of said top panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,799,656 Tinsley Apr. 7, 1931 2,007,697 Usher July 9, 1935 2,593,143 Hendrick Apr. 15, 1952 2,685,402 Caster Aug. 3, 1954 2,722,341 George Nov. 1, 1955 2,724,541 Metcalf Nov. 22, 1955 2,908,576 Rumsey Oct. 13, 1959 2,967,714 Calabrese Ian. 10, 1961 

